Gentle Mates part ways with GLYPH, sign Proxh ahead of EWC 2026
Gentle Mates have confirmed a roster change ahead of the EWC - Esports World Cup 2026, announcing the departure of controller player Conner "GLYPH" Garcia and the signing of Yusuf Emre "Proxh" Tunc as his replacement.
GLYPH's Time at M8 Comes to an End
GLYPH joined Gentle Mates in November 2025 on the back of a strong run with Winthrop University, where he helped the squad secure a 4th place finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Ascension Americas. His stint with M8, while brief, had its highlights—most notably a runner-up finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Kickoff, which positioned the team as a genuine contender heading into the year.
However, form proved difficult to maintain. A 7th-8th place finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026 raised early concerns, and a 5th-6th place exit at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 1 meant a failure to qualify for VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters London 2026 altogether. GLYPH's final chapter with M8 ended on a positive note, though, as the team punched their ticket to Riyadh by finishing in the top 2 of the EWC - Esports World Cup 2026: EMEA Qualifier.
A Familiar Face Returns in Proxh
Replacing him is Proxh, a name that won't be entirely new to Gentle Mates fans. The 23-year-old German-Turkish player had a brief “internship” with the organization in 2025, first for the EWC - Esports World Cup 2025 - EMEA Qualifier, where they failed to qualify, and then during VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Stage 2, which ended in a difficult bottom-place finish.
Since then, Proxh has rebuilt his reputation through consistent performances in the Challengers circuit. After leaving Eintracht Frankfurt, he joined Enterprise and went on an impressive run of tournament victories in 2026:
- VCL 2026 - NORTH//EAST: Kickoff - Main Event
- VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Clash
- VCL 2026 - NORTH//EAST: Stage 1
- VCL 2026 - EMEA: Stage 1
- VCL 2026 - NORTH//EAST: Stage 2
A Group Stage exit at VCL 2026 - EMEA: Stage 2 was a bump in the road, but his overall Challengers pedigree speaks for itself.
Eyes on the Esports World Cup
Fans won't have long to wait to see the revamped roster in action. Gentle Mates are set to compete at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, kicking off on July 9th, where Proxh will look to prove he belongs at the top level of EMEA VALORANT.
For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.
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